Nashville is a step closer to establishing a new department overseeing waste disposal, pulling the responsibility out from under Metro Water Services’ purview for the first time in more than four years.
The Metro Nashville Council approved an ordinance creating the Metro Department of Waste Services on second reading at the group’s May 20 meeting. From here, the ordinance needs one more round of approval at the council’s next meeting to be enacted.
“Metro Water did a phenomenal job kind of bridging the gap and making sure that essential function kept happening, but I’m very pleased to have this legislation before us today to prop up our solid waste department as a full department,” District 5 Council Member Sean Parker said. “I think the function of solid waste collection around the county and in the urban services district is essential, and it warrants having a department.”